MotoGP Qualifying
After piloting his RC212V to a 1:48.819 during the last of 24 laps in MotoGP qualifying Saturday, Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa secured pole position for the Italian Grand Prix in Mugello.
The Spaniard was the first to break the 1:49 barrier during qualifying, beating the rider who was fastest during FP2 Saturday, Fiat Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo.
This is Pedrosa’s second pole of this season, his first arriving in Jerez. He is currently sitting in fourth in the championship with 40 points, 30 behind leader Lorenzo. No rider has won from the pole this season.
Lorenzo was the second and only other rider to break the 1:49 barrier, posting a 1:48.996, 0.177 of a second slower than Pedrosa. Lorenzo has two wins this season, and is in good position to get out front quickly. At Round 2 in Jerez, Lorenzo won ahead of Pedrosa by 0.543 of a second.
Lorenzo’s teammate Valentino Rossi suffered a nasty highside during qualifying, breaking his right shin bone. The reigning world champion will undergo surgery this afternoon, and is expected to be out for at least three months.
The last rider to qualify on the front row was Ducati Marlboro rider Casey Stoner, who was 0.613 of a second slower than Pedrosa. The Australian ahs not had much luck this year, with a best of fifth at Jerez and two DNFs.
Stoner’s teammate, the American Nicky Hayden, will start in fourth on the second row, posting a 1:49.546. He has three fourth-place finishes, and this consistency places him in fifth in the championship, just one point behind pole-sitter Pedrosa.
Joining Hayden on the second row are his teammate Colin Edwards and LCR Honda rider Randy de Puniet, respectively.
Mugello Qualifying Results:
1. (26) Dani PEDROSA, SPA, Repsol Honda Team, 329.3 1:48.819
2. (99) Jorge LORENZO, SPA, Fiat Yamaha Team, -0.177
3. (27) Casey STONER, AUS, Ducati Marlboro Team -0.613
4. (69) Nicky HAYDEN, USA, Ducati Marlboro Team -0.727
5. (5) Colin EDWARDS, USA, Monster Yamaha Tech 3 -0.864
6. (14) Randy DE PUNIET, FRA, LCR Honda MotoGP -0.918
7. (11) Ben SPIES, USA, Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha -1.042
8. (4) Andrea DOVIZIOSO, ITA, Repsol Honda Team -1.246
9. (41) Aleix ESPARGARO, SPA, Pramac Racing Team Ducati -1.349
10. (7) Hiroshi AOYAMA, JPN, Interwetten Honda MotoGP -1.405
11. (58) Marco SIMONCELLI, ITA, San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda -1.615
12. (65) Loris CAPIROSSI, ITA, Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki -1.660
13. (40) Hector BARBERA, SPA, Paginas Amarillas Aspar Ducati -1.742
14. (33) Marco MELANDRI, ITA, San Carlo Honda Gresini -1.845
15. (36) Mika KALLIO, FIN, Pramac Racing Team Ducati -2.151
16. (19) Alvaro BAUTISTA, SPA, Rizla Suzuki MotoGP -4.424
Crash (46) Valentino ROSSI, ITA, Fiat Yamaha Team
Mugello Statistics:
Record Lap
C. Stoner (Ducati) 2008, 1’50.003
Best Lap
V. Rossi (Yamaha) 2008, 1’48.130
2009 Results
1. C. Stoner (Ducati) 45’41.894
2. J. Lorenzo (Yamaha) +1.001
3. V. Rossi (Yamaha) +2.076
MotoGP Standings after Round 3:
1. Jorge LORENZO, 70
2. Valentino ROSSI, 61
3. Andrea DOVIZIOSO, 42
4. Dani PEDROSA, 40
5. Nicky HAYDEN, 39
6. Randy DE PUNIET, 26
7. Marco MELANDRI, 21
8. Colin EDWARDS, 16
9. Marco SIMONCELLI, 16
10. Hector BARBERA, 15
11. Hiroshi AOYAMA, 13
12. Mika KALLIO, 12
13. Casey STONER, 11
14. Ben SPIES, 11
15. Aleix ESPARGARO, 8
16. Loris CAPIROSSI, 7
17. Alvaro BAUTISTA, 6